I know Lucinda Kinsinger was making a good spiritual point in her Jan. 27 column, “I Made My Own Wedding Dress,” and good for her that she can sew. But let me come to the defense of those of us who do not have that skill. I was determined to learn, so I took sewing classes. Carefully following the pattern, I started to make a dress. It was not finished when my mother came to visit. When I showed it to her, she said, “Marjorie, what are you doing? The armholes are clear down by your navel. Why don’t you use your God-given gift of teaching and let others use their gift of sewing?” I have always needed to buy my clothes, but I loved to teach and had the pleasure of touching the lives of many children. Now, my husband hems his own trousers, but I check his spelling and punctuation.

Marjorie Waybill
Harrisonburg, Va.